SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
STRUCTURES ANALYST (STARSHIP)
The vehicle engineering team tackles space exploration’s toughest problems through the development of our reusable launch vehicles (Starship, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy) and spacecraft (HLS, Crew Dragon). Currently, we are responsible for delivering satellites into orbit and cargo to the ISS. These vehicles will be instrumental in extending humanity’s reach to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop guidance and structural analysis tools to be used company-wide. Ensure key stakeholders are bought into these methods and tools, and train other engineers on them as needed
- Perform structural analysis of primary and secondary structures (including finite element modeling and hand calculations)
- Develop load paths, and conduct preliminary sizing of structures using both metallic and composite materials
- Work with team to perform rapid conceptual design, analysis, and testing cycles on development hardware (may include CAD modeling, FEA modeling and analysis, and testing oversight as needed)
- Perform peer review of models, analysis, and tests
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, math, or physics discipline
- 1+ years of experience in structural analysis with commercial FEA or multi-physics simulation package (e.g. ABAQUS, ANSYS, NASTRAN, etc.)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering, math, or physics discipline
- Experience performing structural analysis on primary structures
- Proficiency with the following FEA solvers: ABAQUS, ANSYS, or Nastran
- Advanced proficiency with the following pre/post-processors (including scripting): ABAQUS/CAE, ANSA/META, ANSYS, or FEMAP
- Familiarity with material, geometric, and contact nonlinear analyses
- Experience doing stress analysis of welded structures (including heat distortion and residual stresses)
- Excellent understanding of fatigue and fracture mechanics principles and familiarity with fatigue and crack growth analysis codes, such as nCode, NASGRO, or equivalents
- Scripting experience using Python, VBA, or Matlab
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to succinctly present recommendations to others
- Ability and willingness to be self-directed, take on new challenges, and balance several tasks simultaneously
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed
- Must be willing to travel on occasion
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].
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What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
